A street drinker died after he was brutally attacked on a summer's evening, a jury heard.

Joseph Coyne, 40, was the victim of a vicious and unprovoked beating in Steine Gardens, Brighton.

He was punched, kicked and stamped on as he lay helpless and passers-by screamed for help. Mr Coyne, a father-of-three who had been living rough in Brighton for two years, suffered severe head injuries and died six days later in hospital.

Geoff Norkett, 28, a homeless drinker, denies murdering Mr Coyne.

Jeremy Gold QC, prosecuting, told the jury at Lewes Crown Court: "The injuries inflicted to Mr Coyne killed him. We assert this is a clear case of murder.

"The prosecution's case is that this was an attack of such ferocity and persistence that there can be no doubt Norkett must have intended at least to do serious harm to Mr Coyne, if not to kill him."

Mr Gold said on August 11 last year Norkett, from Liverpool but living rough in London, and two friends travelled to the coast.

They walked through Steine Gardens where Mr Coyne, a former soldier, was laying on the ground, a box of beer nearby.

Witnesses saw Norkett try to wake him before launching the attack. He was allegedly seen kicking Mr Coyne, who rolled on to his back. Norkett then repeatedly kicked and punched him and stamped on his face, head and body. At one point he used both feet to jump on Mr Coyne's head, the jury heard.

When Norkett ran off, a woman attempted to give first aid to Mr Coyne, who was bleeding heavily. But within moments Norkett returned and told her: "Move out of the way. Leave him. I want to finish him."

The jury heard the terrified woman did as he said and then Norkett delivered a final kick to Mr Coyne's head.

During the attack, a 16-year-old student from Germany ran over to Norkett and kicked him to try to stop the attack.

After delivering the final blow, the court was told Norkett ran towards East Street but police caught him soon afterwards.

The trial continues.